Abang Muhammad Salahuddin
Encyclopedia
Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Haji Muhammad Salahuddin bin Abang Barieng is third and sixth Yang di-Pertua Negeri
(Governor) of the Malaysian state of Sarawak. He is the first person to serve as Governor twice.He is also fondly known as Abang Louis, by his friends and acquaintances, especially in Sibu.
community leader and a well-known figure in the Third Division (present-day Sibu Division
).
After the Japanese occupation
, he worked as Municipal Inspector until 1947 under the new British colonial administration. He continued in the public service under the National Registration Department and the Public Works Department.
Abang Muhammad is married twice first with late Toh Puan Hajjah Dayang Umi Kalthum,and later Toh Puan Hajah Norkiah, and they are blessed with 12 children, and 30 grand-children and great-grandchildren.
community to the Cobbold Commission
during the years preceding the formation of Malaysia.
In 1963, he contested and won a seat in the state elections. However, he resigned in 1968 and returned to public service. He eventually became Chairman of the State Public Service Commission.
of Sarawak and served for a term of four years. In 2000, he became Acting Governor while the Governor Ahmad Zaidi Adruce
was ill. Zaidi Adruce died in December 2000, and Salahuddin was reappointed permanently to the governorship in February 2001.
which carries the title Tun, by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on June 7, 1978.
Yang di-Pertua Negeri
The Yang di-Pertua Negeri is the official title of the ceremonial heads of state of the Malaysian states without hereditary rulers, namely Penang, Malacca, Sabah and Sarawak...
(Governor) of the Malaysian state of Sarawak. He is the first person to serve as Governor twice.He is also fondly known as Abang Louis, by his friends and acquaintances, especially in Sibu.
Early life
Salahuddin is the only son of the late Abang Barieng bin Abang Anyut, a MelanauMelanau
The Melanau are a people who live on the island of Borneo, primarily in Sarawak, Malaysia, but also in Kalimantan, Indonesia. They are among the earliest settlers of Sarawak, and speak a Northwest Malayo-Polynesian language .-Origins:...
community leader and a well-known figure in the Third Division (present-day Sibu Division
Sibu Division
Sibu Division is one of the eleven administrative divisions of Sarawak, east Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. It has a total area of 8,278.3 square kilometers, and is the third largest division after Kuching Division and Miri Division....
).
After the Japanese occupation
Japanese occupation of Malaya, North Borneo and Sarawak
Throughout much of World War II, British Malaya, North Borneo and Sarawak were under Japanese occupation.The Japanese Empire commenced the Pacific War with the invasion of Kota Bahru in Kelantan on 8 December 1941 at 00:25, about 90 minutes before the Attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii at 07:48 on 7...
, he worked as Municipal Inspector until 1947 under the new British colonial administration. He continued in the public service under the National Registration Department and the Public Works Department.
Abang Muhammad is married twice first with late Toh Puan Hajjah Dayang Umi Kalthum,and later Toh Puan Hajah Norkiah, and they are blessed with 12 children, and 30 grand-children and great-grandchildren.
Political career
He was active in state politics, helping to form Barisan Pemuda Sarawak (BPS) and Barisan Rakyat Jati Sarawak (BARJASA). Salahuddin acted as representative of the MelanauMelanau
The Melanau are a people who live on the island of Borneo, primarily in Sarawak, Malaysia, but also in Kalimantan, Indonesia. They are among the earliest settlers of Sarawak, and speak a Northwest Malayo-Polynesian language .-Origins:...
community to the Cobbold Commission
Cobbold Commission
The Cobbold Commission, was a Commission of Enquiry set up to determine whether the people of North Borneo and Sarawak supported the proposal to create the Malaysia consisting of Malaya, Singapore, North Borneo, and Sarawak. It was also responsible for the subsequent drafting of the Constitution...
during the years preceding the formation of Malaysia.
In 1963, he contested and won a seat in the state elections. However, he resigned in 1968 and returned to public service. He eventually became Chairman of the State Public Service Commission.
Governorship
In 1977, he was installed as the third GovernorYang di-Pertua Negeri
The Yang di-Pertua Negeri is the official title of the ceremonial heads of state of the Malaysian states without hereditary rulers, namely Penang, Malacca, Sabah and Sarawak...
of Sarawak and served for a term of four years. In 2000, he became Acting Governor while the Governor Ahmad Zaidi Adruce
Ahmad Zaidi Adruce
Tuan Yang Terutama Tun Datuk Patinggi Haji Ahmad Zaidi Adruce bin Muhammed Noor was the fifth Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak . He was the longest serving Governor of Sarawak, from his appointment in 1985, to his death in 2000...
was ill. Zaidi Adruce died in December 2000, and Salahuddin was reappointed permanently to the governorship in February 2001.
Awards & Recognitions
Salahuddin was bestowed the nation's highest award -- the Seri Maharaja Mangku NegaraOrder of the Defender of the Realm
The Most Esteemed Order of the Defender of the Realm is a Malaysian federal award presented for meritous service to the country...
which carries the title Tun, by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on June 7, 1978.